It
ended badly for Ukraine: both world wars brought geographic divisions or
occupation even though it made valiant efforts for independence just as the
EuroMaidan Revolution did merely a few weeks ago.
To
win this time, Ukraine must be tough with all parties in defending its
self-interest.
The
West has a history of shortchanging this exceptional country.
President
George Bush Sr.’s “Chicken Kyiv” speech represents the Russo-centric focus which still prevails.
Then, the largest country in Europe was admonished for discarding Russia’s
horrific rule. Today’s pro-Russia arguments support its right to “historic”
territories and “influence in its neighbourhood. The West knows little
about the Slavs perhaps because it never colonialized them, assesses Russia’s
mindset through its own and gets a wrong picture.
It
finds it difficult to comprehend, for example, that President Putin allocated
some $40 billion over the last 10 years — $25,000 a year per- person
annually—when the average income is about $5,000 to propaganda.
In
the West, such numbers would end political careers. In Russia, it’s high
ratings for the despot because the propaganda machine bellows that he’s
protecting Mother Russia from the European Union, NATO, the United States, the
gays and the current boogeyman, Ukraine.
In
our naiveté, we believe Russia’s leaders’ lies supported by disinformation
organs like Russia Today and “useful idiots” as Josef Stalin called western
pro-Russia apologists: There were no Russian sniper-killers in Kyiv; no
illegal occupation of Crimea; no destabilization by Russia’s special forces in
Ukraine’s south today; and no 100,000 Russian troops with tanks, planes,
helicopters and rocket launchers on its borders.
We
believe, or want to, that Russia has not infiltrated Western institutions of
power and influence, is present in Canada’s Arctic waters, in cahoots with Iran
and Syria’s governments, and not making mischief in Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan
and Egypt, or in Venezuela, Argentina and elsewhere.
Such
delusion allows business as usual with Russia; just as it intended.
Instead of a robust response to Crimea, the West’s profit interest is
trumping democratic principles. Emboldened, Russia is moving on Ukraine’s
south in order to control its shipbuilding, space, steel and other strategic
complexes needed to deal– in due course– with the West.
We
also believe that Russia is entitled to its near abroad and to protect Russian
speakers. We dismiss the fact that they
are citizens of Ukraine or other nations by choice and that citizenship
privileges come at a price: Calls for separatism is treason.
In
a leaked conversation, two of Russia’s ambassadors in excessively graphic
language, mock the West by listing places like London, New York, where Russian
speakers are waiting for “liberation.”
Such
claims would be laughable if the reality in Ukraine, and with it the stability
in the world, weren’t so dire. Russia’s aggression requires all states with
Russian borders to come to Ukraine’s help. Japan has already allocated $1.5
billion in aid — and expressed concerns to the United States about honouring
nuclear agreements.
With
good reason.
In
1994, the US, Britain and Russia signed the Budapest Memorandum guaranteeing
Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity for giving up its nuclear
arsenal to Russia. Now, as Russia wages war in Ukraine, the West is hedging.
Ukraine
needs to be firm and hold the West to its word otherwise it’s meaningless like
Russia’s. Ukraine must insist that America and NATO augment their military
support sufficiently to make Russia think twice about occupation.
Should
the West’s response continue faltering, Ukraine needs to highlight that it
withdraws its commitment to the Memorandum and returns to making nukes:
Apparently this will take six months.
And
in the name of self defense Ukraine must stop calling for citizen
disarmament.
It
must actively pursue membership in NATO.
Russia’s objections need to be
slapped down here and with regards to EU integration. In fact, Ukraine must
insist on full Association Agreement immediately as well as full economic
sanctions against Russia. The current
pandering to Russia only emboldens it.
As
southern cities are threatened, Kyiv’s provisional government needs to show
more Maidan-like spunk. According to Lenin, Mr. Putin’s idol, the aggressor
will advance if its bayonet strikes mush and stop when it strikes steel.
It’s time for NATO, EU, US and Ukraine’s leaders to show more
steel.
Ukraine
must be all steel when it comes to dealing with its future. Bilateral
discussions without it, like those held between the US and Russia behind closed
doors, are unacceptable. Ukraine must not waver on this or it will be
frozen out and its fate determined by the self-interest of others, including
its “friends.”
History
teaches that Ukraine must take charge of its future or will not be good.
Oksana Bashuk Hepburn is an opinion writer.
